Football: UNT picks up pair of commitments

Sir Calvin Wallace heard all about Dan McCarney and what he
accomplished at Iowa State once he arrived at Tyler Chapel Hill
before last season and got to know Jeremy Lloyd. Dan McCarney

Lloyd played for McCarney at ISU before becoming an assistant
coach at Chapel Hill.

That connection gave Wallace the insight he needed to feel
comfortable committing to play for UNT, which also picked up a
commitment from Baton Rouge, La., Woodlawn defensive back Devante
Davis this week.

Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day recruits in the
Class of 2012 can sign national letters of intent is Feb. 1.

Securing a Division I scholarship was the latest step in
Wallace's rapid rise as a college prospect. The 6-2, 290-pound
defensive tackle played on the junior varsity team as a sophomore
at Tyler Lee before joining the team at Chapel Hill.

Wallace posted 73 tackles, including nine behind the line of
scrimmage, and three sacks in his first varsity season.

Lloyd, who lettered for ISU in 2001 and 2002, told Wallace about
McCarney and defensive line coach Mike Nelson once UNT starting
recruiting the Chapel Hill standout. Nelson was a member of ISU's
staff while Lloyd was playing for the Cyclones.

Lloyd went on to play in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams.

"I'm really excited," Wallace said. "I met the coaches and
really liked them. They are nice people, and what I hear from coach
Lloyd is that they can help me get to the next level."

Wallace hopes to take a similar path as Lloyd, whom ISU signed
out of Pittsburg, Texas.

"I can see how he went from nowhere to a big college and then to
the pros while playing for coach McCarney and coach Nelson,"
Wallace said. "That helped convince me to go to North Texas."

Wallace was named the Newcomer of the Year in District 17-3A
last season and chose UNT over offers from Prairie View A&M and
Northwestern State. He was recruited by UNT linebackers coach
Anthony Weaver.

Wallace could garner more interest following his senior season,
Chapel Hill head coach Thomas Sitton said.

"He's a big kid who is very athletic," Sitton said. "He disrupts
things in the middle, gets off blocks well and runs to the
football. We expect good things out of him this year. There are not
that many big kids in the state of Texas who can run. He has a lot
of potential. The good Lord gave him a lot to work with."

Wallace is the second player from Chapel Hill to commit to UNT,
joining running back Rex Rollins.

The opportunity to play for UNT's new coaching staff also was
one of the reasons Davis decided to commit to play for the Mean
Green early.

Davis (5-11, 173) was an all-district selection last season when
he intercepted two passes.

"North Texas has a great system and is about education first,
which I like," Davis said. "I will have a chance to be a part of a
new era. North Texas is the underdog, but it is coming on. They are
recruiting a lot of good players."

Davis was recruited by UNT as a safety but says he could also
see time at cornerback, depending on the team's needs.

Davis was recruited by cornerbacks coach Justin Gaines.

No other schools had offered Davis a scholarship, but
Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana Tech had shown interest.

"North Texas gave me an opportunity that I wanted to take
advantage of," Davis said. "They feel like I should be able to play
early like I wanted to and maybe start right away. They think I
could be a four-year starter."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is
bvito@dentonrc.com . NORTH TEXAS COMMITMENTS

The following is a list of players who have orally committed to
sign with North Texas from the Class of 2012

Devante Davis

DB

Baton Rouge Woodlawn.

Roderick Lancaster

WR

Oak Cliff Life School

Rex Rollins

RB

Tyler Chapel Hill

Sir Calvin Wallace

DT

Tyler Chapel Hill

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